Should you xeriscape your yard?

Whether you want to save money on water bills, conserve water for the environment or make your yard cozy for Utah’s native flora and fauna, xeriscaping is the way to go. Start sowing the seeds of a water-conserving yard now.

What is xeriscaping?

Xeriscaping is a landscaping method that uses native plants that need little to no irrigation. You may have noticed a landscaping trend in the last ten years. More sagebrush, yucca and yarrow — and less lawn. Drought hit the west 30 years ago and landscapers started looking for ways to reduce water usage. Native flowers, shrubs and trees came back into style, and began to replace thirsty English-style gardens. As the grass went out, attractive patios and boulder gardens came in.

Water-wise gardening is now so important that local government programs like Slow the Flow are encouraging everyone to conserve water. Slow the Flow offers educational resources and cash incentives that may help you pull the plug on your lawnmower forever.

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Xeriscaping saves you water, money and time

Water conservation

Utah has many native species of plants that are adapted to the local climate. Once established, they don’t need to be watered as often as non-native plants. Conserving water usage is critical while Utah continues to be in drought, for the burgeoning human population but also for the plants and animals that rely on Utah’s waterways for survival.

Money conservation

Xeriscaped yards can save money on water and fertilizer. As water becomes scarce it’s bound to get expensive. Slow the flow of water bills by reducing your usage now. But not only do native plants need less water, they often don’t need fertilizer and other soil amendments. Plus you’ll save money on those non-adapted annuals from the plant nursery that die every fall. Xeriscaped gardens are perennial and meant to last a lifetime.

Beautiful yards are also great for the property value of your home. A water-wise garden may be exactly what drought-conscious home buyers are looking for. Better to have a well-designed xeriscape than dry yellow grass.

Minimal maintenance

How much time do you spend mowing your lawn? How about repairing your lawn mower? Maybe there’s something else you want to do with your time. Native plants require less maintenance as they are adapted to the local climate and are pretty happy just doing their thing. There’s no need to till either, and if you use mulch or rocks as ground cover, you’ll spend less time weeding.

Drip irrigation

Converting from sprinklers to a drip irrigation system is a big project — but there are big benefits. With sprinklers, lots of water is lost when tiny droplets evaporate before they even reach the ground. Drip irrigation uses a series of hoses with holes in it that allow water to drip directly onto the soil. The drip holes are placed strategically around plants you want to water, which also reduces the amount of weeds in your yard. 

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Parking strip rebate program

If xeriscaping your entire property sounds overwhelming, start with a small section of your yard like the parking strip. But before you start ripping up the sod, see if you are eligible for the Flip Your Strip rebate program which gives you cash for every square foot of parking strip you convert to xeriscape. They will guide you in removing the grass and planting a few perennial water-wise plants like penstemon, globe mallow or blue fescue. 

If you go it alone, look for plant descriptions that use the words water-wise, drought tolerant, heat tolerant, native and drought resistant. 

Learn your local ordinances

Don’t end up like the guy who xeriscaped his entire yard only to find out that his HOA was hell-bent on returning it to grass. Although laws and rules that are unfriendly to water conservation will soon be a thing of the past, check your local zoning laws just to be sure. Parking strips are usually owned by your city and they have rules about what can be planted in them, for the safety of drivers and pedestrians. Best to make sure your xeriscape plan complies so that you don’t have to tear it out later. 

Visit a water conservation garden

If you aren't sure where to start, visit a local garden that showcases native or waterwise plants. The potential for a beautiful, lush, waterwise garden is limitless. Seeing the variety of plants in person will give you a better idea of their texture, size and overall look.

• The Water Conservation Garden at Red Butte Garden | Salt Lake City
• Conservation Garden Park | West Jordan
• Sego Lily Gardens | Sandy
• Red Hills Desert Garden | St. George
• The Garden at Tonaquint Park | St. George
• Weber Basin’s Water Conservation Learning Garden | Layton

 Don’t have a yard to xeriscape? Browse yards … err homes … on KSL Homes.